Drinking tube

ABSTRACT

A drinking tube (1) consisting of two channels (2, 3) which when connected to one another and which form a closed cross section in which the edge regions (4) overlap, lie one on top of the other in a sealing manner or interlock with each other. The channels (2, 3) are each formed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry (5), wherein a) the height (h) of the channels (2, 3) in relation to the axis of symmetry (5) is smaller than the width (b) and/or b) the cross section of the inner channel (3) is equal to or slightly larger than the cross section of the outer channel (2), so that a tension exists between the channels (2, 3) lying one inside the other.

The invention relates to a drinking tube which can be composed of two channels and which can be used multiple times.

Multiple use presupposes that the inside of the drinking tube can also be cleaned.

The process of passing small brushes through drinking tubes in order to clean them is known from US 2017/02 168 90 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,490 C. This technique of cleaning drinking tubes is elaborate and extremely uneconomical given the prices of drinking tubes.

In order to obtain dishwasher-safe drinking tubes, drinking tubes consisting of two channels have been developed, which can be connected one inside the other to form a tube for drinking and can be separated from one another for cleaning.

Thus, KR 10 2018 000 133 1 A describes a drinking tube in which the two channels each have, in the edge region, separately arranged guides, e.g. dovetail guides, which can be pushed one inside the other to create a closed tube.

The cylindrical drinking tubes described in US 2019/003 80 58 A1, in which the edge regions of the two channels each overlap and lie one on top of the other after being pushed together, are technologically easier to produce.

This presupposes that at least one channel has more than a 180° casing cross section in cross section.

The object of the invention is to safely and inexpensively guarantee a closed cross section for a drinking tube when two channels are connected.

This object is achieved with the features of Claim 1. Advantageous configurations are the subject-matter of the subclaims.

For a drinking tube consisting of two channels which, when connected to one another, form a closed cross section in which the edge regions overlap and lie one on top of the other in a sealing manner and/or interlock with each other, provision is made according to the invention that the channels are each formed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry, wherein

a) the height (h) of the channels with respect to the axis of symmetry is smaller than the width (b) and/or b) the cross section of the inner channel is equal to or slightly larger than the cross section of the outer channel, so that a tension exists between the channels lying one inside the other.

The channel cross sections can be executed to be elliptical, arc-shaped, polygonal, circular and/or trapezoidal. In a particular special case, a channel can also be formed as a strip.

The axis of symmetry is a perpendicular line to the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube. The two channels are connected by being pushed one inside the other or slotted one inside the other.

Being pushed one inside the other means that one end of a channel is introduced into the end of the other channel, and then the channels are displaced with respect to one another by an action of force in the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube. This technique is used with solid channel materials such as steel, stainless steel or solid plastic.

When slotted one inside the other, the channels having the open sides are placed one above the other and are pressed one inside the other by an action of force transversely to the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube. To this end, at least one channel must consist of a highly flexible material, such as e.g. silicon, which then expands following the slotting one inside the other and produces at least the positive fit with the other channel.

According to the invention, it is also provided that both channels consist of a highly flexible material.

The thickness of the channels advantageously allows an elastic deformation of at least the inner channel when the channels are pushed one inside the other or slotted one inside the other under the action of force of a human hand.

Thanks to the designs without a circular cross section, parallel running guide edges or guide arcs are created in the longitudinal direction of the channels, which advantageously definitely exclude the possibility of the channels twisting with respect to one another. The consequence of this is that the width of the overlapping edge regions remains constant over the channel length and the cross section therefore remains constantly closed and sealed on both sides.

In a first embodiment, at least in the case of the outer channel, the edge regions are crimped inwardly into the channel, so that said edge regions grasp the edge regions of the inner channel.

In another embodiment, the edge regions of both channels are executed crimped inwardly, so that the edge regions of the outer channel grasp the edge regions of the inner channel and the edge regions of the inner channel lie in contact with the outer channel right into the region thereof which is not crimped.

As a special case of these two embodiments, it is provided that the inner channel is executed as a strip with or without crimps. A strip is understood to be a strip having planar surfaces or slightly curved surfaces.

Crimping in the sense used here means that an outer longitudinal portion of the edge region of the channels is bent over by a certain amount. This can be effected angularly with a small bending radius or in the form of an arc.

Instead of crimps, the channels can also only follow an elliptical shape in cross section. It is crucial that no additional guides are arranged on the channels, but that these are solely produced from the geometry of the channels, so to speak. This reduces the costs considerably, simplifies handling, prevents wear and is more hygienic than e.g. the cited KR 10 2018 000 133 1 A, where residues of beverage components can still collect in the dovetail guides.

In order to create a pleasant drinking sensation when using the drinking tube, the channel edges should be formed such that they are rounded at least in the case of the outer channel.

To ensure that the connected channels are impervious, it is expedient if a non-positive engagement and/or a frictional engagement exist(s) between the channels which are pushed one inside the other or slotted one inside the other, which can be overcome by human force in order to separate the channels.

The force to be applied in order to pull apart the channels pushed one inside the other should be between 1 and 50 N, preferably between 8 and 20 N.

When highly flexible materials are used, the two channels can be pulled away from one another in a similar way to removing a banana peel.

A further configuration provides that combinations of a solid channel with a channel made of a highly flexible material or a combination of channels made of highly flexible material are provided as bent drinking tubes.

Arc-shaped means that the channels joined together have a curvature over the entire channel length or only in a certain portion, preferably in the last third before the drinking opening.

The channel made of the solid material or respectively a channel made of a highly flexible material is pre-bent, while the second channel in each case is at least positively adapted when the channels are slotted one inside the other.

This adaptive channel is preferably formed as a strip since, in this way, it has the lowest moment of resistance and, as a result, the connection remains impervious over the entire length of the channel.

In addition to the advantages already indicated, the drinking tubes according to the invention having a smaller height (h) than width (b) have further advantages:

-   -   the channel opening is larger than in the case of cylindrical         channels, which makes cleaning easier,     -   the attack surface of the human hand when pushing apart the         channels is larger, which facilitates this process and renders         the deployment of additional grips as in US 2019/003 80 58 A1         superfluous,     -   the outer surface of the outer channel is larger, so that         corresponding advertising can be applied more effectively,     -   if both channels are made of a highly flexible material, the         drinking tubes can also be bent without becoming impervious.

The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows drinking tubes having a circular cross section,

FIG. 2 shows drinking tubes having an elliptical cross section,

FIG. 3 shows drinking tubes having a crimped outer channel,

FIG. 4 shows drinking tubes having crimped channels,

FIG. 5 shows a special case according to FIG. 3 or 4 with a channel as a strip having a bent outer channel, and

FIG. 6 having a trapezoidal outer channel,

FIG. 7 shows a combination of stainless steel and highly flexible material,

FIG. 8 shows a bent drinking tube, and

FIG. 9 shows further advantageous cross sections of channels joined together.

FIG. 1 shows a drinking tube having two channels 2, 3 which are pushed one inside the other in order to form a drinking tube 1 having a circular cross section.

The cross section of the inner channel 3 is equal to or slightly larger than the cross section of the outer channel 2, so that a tension exists between the channels 2, 3 lying one inside the other.

The problem with this embodiment is achieving the depicted ideal condition, namely that the overlapping regions are as constant as possible with respect to the length of the drinking tube 1. Markings which display the correct positioning can be helpful.

This problem does not exist in the case of the further depicted solutions since, due to their geometry, they guarantee the exact positioning of the channels 2, 3 with respect to one another. In the case of this drinking tube 1, consisting of two channels 2, 3 which, when pushed one inside the other, form a closed cross section in which the edge regions 4 overlap and lie one on top of the other in a sealing manner or interlock with each other, the channels 2, 3 are each formed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry 5, wherein the height (h) of the channels 2, 3 with respect to the axis of symmetry 5 is smaller than the width (b).

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment having an elliptical shape in four views, including one in cross section. This embodiment has also proven itself very well with highly flexible channel materials. With both channels 2, 3, the channel edges 7 are formed such that they are rounded.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, in the case of the outer channel 2, the edge regions 4 are crimped inwardly into the channel 2, so that said edge regions 4 grasp the edge regions 4 of the inner channel 3.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the edge regions 4 of both channels 2, 3 are executed such that they are crimped inwardly, so that the edge regions 4 of the outer channel 2 grasp the edge regions 4 of the inner channel 3 and the edge regions 4 of the inner channel 3 lie in contact with the outer channel 1 right into the region thereof which is not crimped.

During crimping, as is clear from the depictions, an outer longitudinal portion of the edge region 4 of the channels 2, 3 is bent over by a certain measure. This can be effected angularly with a small bending radius, as depicted. If the bending radius is larger and has the form of an arc, the cross section approximates an elliptical form.

A special case of the drinking tubes 4 depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 provides that the inner channel 3 is executed as a strip with or without crimps. This is shown by FIG. 5 which has a bent outer channel 2, and FIG. 6 which has a trapezoidal outer channel 2.

FIG. 7 shows a drinking tube 1 in which the outer channel 2 consists of stainless steel and the inner channel 3 consists of a highly flexible material such as silicon. The channels 2, 3 are joined together by being slotted one inside the other and are separated by pulling off the inner channel 3 as depicted.

A bent drinking tube 1 is depicted in two views in FIG. 8. Here as well, the outer channel 2 consists of stainless steel. It is pre-bent in the upper third before the drinking opening. Here, the inner channel is a strip made of a highly flexible material.

The channels 2, 3 are joined together by being slotted one inside the other and are separated by pulling off the inner channel 3. The advantage of using a strip as the inner channel 3 is that the strip, which follows the outer channel 2 when the channels are slotted one inside the other and rests on the crimped regions 6 of said outer channel in a sealing manner, has the lowest moment of resistance.

FIG. 9 shows further advantageous cross sections of channels which are joined together: square, hexagonal and triangular, in each case crimped.

Due to the selected geometry of height (h) and width (b), the crimps or arcs become guides for the outer channel 2 when the channels 2, 3 are pushed together.

This guarantees a constant overlapping region over the length of the drinking tube 1. The selected geometry and the materials deployed also make possible bent drinking tubes 1, or the drinking tubes 1 can be bent during drinking.

Reference is finally made to an advantageous configuration in which a channel is formed in the manner of a spoon at the end. Consequently, the drinking tube also functions as a spoon. The spoon-like formation is preferably effected at a channel which consists of a solid material.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 drinking tube -   2 outer channel -   3 inner channel -   4 edge regions of the channels -   5 axis of symmetry -   6 crimped edge region of the channels -   7 channel edges 

1. A drinking tube (1) consisting of two channels (2, 3) having edge regions (4) which, when connected to one another, form a closed cross section in which the edge regions (4) overlap and lie one on top of the other in a sealing manner or interlock with each other, wherein the channels (2, 3) are each formed symmetrically with respect to a common axis of symmetry (5), wherein a) the height (h) of the drinking tube (1) consisting of channels (2, 3) with respect to the axis of symmetry (5) is smaller than the width (b) of the drinking tube (1) and/or b) the two channels (2, 3) comprise an outer channel (2) and an inner channel (3), wherein the cross section of the inner channel (3) is equal to or slightly larger than the cross section of the outer channel (2), so that a tension exists between the channels (2, 3) lying one inside the other.
 2. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two channels (2, 3) are connected by being pushed one inside the other or slotted one inside the other.
 3. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 2, wherein, when the two channels (2, 3) are to be pushed one inside the other, an end of the inner channel (3) is introduced into an end of the outer channel (2), and then the channels (2, 3) are displaced with respect to one another by an action of force in the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube.
 4. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 2, wherein, when the two channels (2, 3) are to be slotted one inside the other, the channels (2, 3) having the open sides are placed with open sides facing each other and are pressed one inside the other by an action of force transversely to the longitudinal direction of the drinking tube.
 5. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the channels (2, 3) allows an elastic deformation of at least the inner channel (3) when the channels are pushed one inside the other or slotted one inside the other under the action of force of a human hand.
 6. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 2, wherein in the case of the overlapping edge regions (4), at least in the case of the outer channel (2), the edge regions (4) are crimped inwardly into the channel (2), so that said edge regions (4) of the outer channel (2) grasp the edge regions (4) of the inner channel (3).
 7. The drinking tube according to claim 2, wherein the edge regions (4) of both channels (2, 3) are executed crimped inwardly, so that the edge regions (4) of the outer channel (2) grasp the edge regions (4) of the inner channel (3) and the edge regions (4) of the inner channel (3) lie in contact with the outer channel (2) right into the region thereof which is not crimped.
 8. The drinking tube according to claim 6, wherein the inner channel (3) is executed as a strip with crimps.
 9. The drinking tube according to claim 6, wherein the edge regions (4) of the channels (2, 3) are crimped angularly with a small bending radius or in the form of an arc.
 10. The drinking tube (1) according to claim 1, wherein the channels (2, 3) joined together follow an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape or a circular shape in cross section.
 11. The drinking tube according to claim 1, wherein the drinking tubes (1) are formed in the shape of an arc, wherein a combination of a solid channel (2 or 3) with a channel (3 or 2) made of a highly flexible material or a combination of channels (2, 3) made of highly flexible material are provided as bent drinking tubes and wherein the channel (2 or 3) is pre-bent from the solid material or respectively a channel (2 or 3) is pre-bent from a highly flexible material, while the other channel (3 or 2) in each case is adapted at least positively when the channels are slotted one inside the other.
 12. The drinking tube according to claim 11, wherein the adaptive inner channel (3) is formed as a strip having a lower moment of resistance than adaptive inner channel (3).
 13. The drinking tube according to claim 1, wherein in the case of the outer channel (2) the channel edges (7) are formed such that they are rounded.
 14. The drinking tube according to claim 1, wherein a non-positive engagement and/or a frictional engagement exist(s) between the connected channels (2, 3), which can be overcome by human force in order to separate said channels.
 15. The drinking tube according to claim 14, wherein the force to be applied in order to pull apart the channels pushed one inside the other (2, 3) is between 1 and 50 N.
 16. The drinking tube according to claim 1, wherein the channels (2, 3), at least one of which consists of a highly flexible material, can be separated by pulling off the one channel from the other channel (2, 3).
 17. The drinking tube according to claim 6, wherein the inner channel (3) is executed as a strip without crimps.
 18. The drinking tube according to claim 14, wherein the force to be applied in order to pull apart the channels pushed one inside the other (2, 3) is between 8 and 20 N. 